Apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins



, Nov. 30, 1943. F. E. A. WALLIN 2,335,369

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GENUINE FROM SPURIOUS COINS Filed March 16, 1942 3 Sheets-Shegt 1 Hun qQm sa flaw,

NW. 30, 1943 .F E, A WALLIN 2,335,369

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GENUINE FROM SPURIOUS ,COINS Filed March 16, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIIIIIIIIIIIII; I -7IIIIII Nov. 30, 1943. E. A. WALLIN 2,335,369:

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GENUINE FROM S-PURIOUS coins Filed March 16, 1942 a Sheets-Sheet s Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNITED APPARATUS FOR" SEPARATING' GENUINE FROM SPURIOUS COINS Fred E. A. Wallin, University City, Mo., assignor to N. MarshallvSeeburg; Chicago, Ill.

ApplicationMarohlfi, 1942, Serial No. 434,861

14 Claims.

This invention relates .to apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins and it is particularly concerned with apparatus for separating genuin United States nickels or United States and Canadian nickels from spurious simulations thereof.

The operation of the present invention depends upon the fact that the metal of a United States nickel coin appears to constitute with most metals a thermocouple providing a much higher voltage than any other known metal or alloy, together with similar metals. A Canadian nickel coin is made of pure nickel and it is found that it provides, with most other metals, thermocouples giving slightly less voltage than do United States nickels. As will hereinafter be pointed out, my apparatus may be readily adapted to accept United States nickels only and to reject all other coins and tokens or it may be adjusted so that it will accept United States and Canadian nickels and reject all other coins.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins in which the'coin is automatically constituted as one element of a thermocouple, being forcibly pressed vagainst another thermocouple element for a limited period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such an apparatus, means for preventing movement of a coin away from testing position for a controlled period of time and coin pressing means associated therewith, arranged to be effective before the coin releasing means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins in which a plurality of coins may be inserted simultaneously or almost simultaneously and in which they are tested automatically by the apparatus one after the other.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction 1 with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the separating apparatus installed in a vending cabinet;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view cf the separating apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the manner in which a plurality of coins are received thereby;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan View on i an enlarged scale taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the separating apparatus as viewed ina direction which is opposite to that from which Fig. 1 is. taken, the mecha:

nism being shown in condition for the reception of a'coin;

Fig. 8 is a similar view partly broken away, th mechanism being shown in its position during the testing of a coin; and

Fig. 9 is, a perspective view of the heated contact and heater assembly.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l9 designates a'housing which maybe part ofa vending machine, coin-controlled phonograph, or other coin-controlleddevice. The housing 10 isprovided witha slot ll adaptedto-receive a United States nickel or a United States and Canadian nickel. The slot H leads into a chute I2 which may suitably be constituted by a wall of a frame l3 and a swinging plate M togetherwith suitable lugs and abutments which guide an inserted coin of appropriate size downwardly until it seats upon two pins l5'and l6 which extend across the chute I2 through suitable openings in the walls l3 and M.

The platel4- is pivotally mounted on the wall l3 by means of lateral-extensions ll. These-extensions I! are provided with forwardly turned extremities which extend into suitable slots in the wall l3. Pins [8 extend from-the Wall I3 through openings in the extensions ll and-carry at their outermost or rearmost ends washers l9.

-,Coil:springs 20 which engage the washers l9 and the extensions I! serve normally to hold the plate It in juxtaposition to the plate 13 so as to provide a coin slot therebetween. The plate I4 is provided with a cam-shaped projection 2| which extends forwardly throughanopening in thewall l3. This cam-shaped projection 2| is adapted to be engaged by a cam 22 carried by a lever 23 pivotally mounted-on the front side of the wall l3.

The pivoted lever 23 can be depressed from the exterior-of the housing. ID by means of a button .24. This button engages a forwardly extending lug on the lever 23, the arrangement being such that when the button 2 1 is pressed downwardly, the lever 23 is swung downwardly and the. cam 22 engages the cam-shaped projection 2| thus swinging .the plate [4 rearwardly.

q Above the pin IS the plate l4 carries anarm 25 which extends over the pin l5 towards the pin I6 so as tobe in register with arcoin sitting upon the pins [5 and It. The arm 25 extends forwardly and inwardlyand is normally located forwardly of the chute I 2, a-suitable recess 26 being provided in the wall l3 to receive it.

It will readily be understood that if a coin for some reason remains upon the pins I5 and IE it may be retrieved by the depositor by merely depressing the button 24. This causes the plate It to swing rearwardly and it causes the arm 25 to carry the coin off the pin l5 so that it may fall downwardly into adiscard chute 21.

The coin may be directed into the discard chute 21 by means of a flange 28 which extends later ally in inclined direction substantially between and below the pins I and I6. The forward edge of the flange 28 is spaced from the wall I3 a sufficient distance to enable coins to drop normally downwardly from the pins I5 and 6 when the pin I6 moves outwardly.

Such coins are adapted to engage a gate 29 which is slightly below and parallel to the flange 28 or if this gate is withdrawn, the coins may fall directly through a coin chute 30 for the genuine coins, this chute being immediately below the gate 29.

The gate 29 is normally held in coin-rejecting position by means of a spring 3|. It is moved into coin-accepting position by means of an electromagnet 32 which is arranged to attract a rearwardly extending flange 33 on the gate 29. The gate 29 is pivotally mounted on the plate member which cooperates with the wall l3 to provide the chute 33. The electromagnet 32 is suitably mounted by means of a bracket 34 upon the rear wall of the plate I3.

Also mounted on the rear wall of the plate I3 are lu s 35, 36 and 31 which engage a flashlight cell 38 or other suitable source of direct current. The lug 35 is grounded to the chassis and is adapted to engage the central terminal of the cell 38. The lug 36 resiliently engages the side of the cell 38 and forces it against the side flange of the plate I3.

The lug 31 is insulated from the wall I3. This lug engages the bottom or zinc wall of the cell 38 and it is connected to one side of the electromagnet 32. The other side of the electromagnet is connected to a stationary contact 39 of a sensitive relay 46. This contact is adapted to be engaged by a movable contact 4| which is carried by the moving coil 42 of the relay.

The coil 42 is connected by conductor 43 to the plate l3 which serves as a ground. The conductor 43 is also electrically connected to the moving contact 4|. The other side of the coil 42 is connected by conductor 44 to a thermocouple 45, the other side of which is connected by conductor 46 to the pin I 5.

The relay 4!] may suitably have a base 41 of insulating material provided with prongs which connect into a socket 48 mounted on the wall I3.

The pin I5 is suitably a substantial rod of silver which is mounted on the upper end of a copper rod 49. The rod 4 9 is mounted on the forward side of the plate I3, the pin I5 extending rearwardly therefrom through suitable openings in the walls I3 and plate I4. The copper rod 49 is rigidly supported by brackets from an insulatin plate 56 which extends forwardly from the wall l3.

The copper rod 49 extends through a heater resistor 5| of the ceramic type. Opposite ends of the resistor 5| are connected to power leads 52 which are connected to a plug 53 adapted to be plugged into any suitable utility outlet.

One of the leads 52 is connected to one side of a solenoid 54 which is mounted on the front of the plate I3. The other side of the solenoid is connected through a switch 55 to the other power lead 52.

The switch 55 may suitably be in the form of a couple of leaf contacts normally in separated relation. The pin i6 is constituted by a horizontal portion at the upper end of a rod 56 which ispivotally mounted on a bracket 51 carried by the plate I3. The bracket 51 may in fact be the same bracket which carries the leaf contacts of the switch 55.

In an intermediate position the rod 56 has a horizontal portion which carries a circumambient insulating tube 53 normally in engagement with one of the leaves of the switch 55. The resilience of this leaf forces the pin I6 towards the pin I5, the pin I6 normally bearing against the edge of the opening in the wall I3 through which it Passes.

When a coin is dropped through the slot H so that its drops down into engagement with the pins I5 and I6, the pin i6 is moved away from the pin I5 to an extent which is limited by the presence of an adjacent sector 59. The limited movement permitted for the pin |6 to engage the sector 59 is suflicient to close the switch but is insufficient to permit the coin to drop past the pins I5 and I6.

It Will readily be understood that When a coin engages the pins I5 and I6 and forces the pin I6 away from the pin l5, the circuit of the solenoid 54 to the power lines is completed and this solenoid is energized.

The armature of the solenoid 54 is biassed upwardly by a spring 60 connected to the armature and to a bracket on the front side of the plate [3. Normally the armature is in its uppermost position but when the solenoid is energized, the armature is sucked down against the tension of the spring 66.

The sector 59 is integral with an arm 5| which carries at its outermost end a weight 62. The weight 62 is pivotally mounted near the sector portion by means of a shaft 63. This shaft is provided with bearings in two plates 64, 65, which are mounted in spaced relation upon the front of the plate I3.

The plates 64, 65 serve as the frame for a train of clockwork gearing 66 which includes a pinion on the shaft 63. The train of gearing terminates in a flywheel 61. The gear ratios of the train of clockwork gearing is such that a slow movement of the system 59, 66, 6| and 62 necessitates 1 a ve y r pi movement of the flywheel 6?. Con

sequently, the inertia of the flywheel provides a delay for the movement of the sector 59 under the influence of the weight 62.

It will of course be understood that any other suitable delay means may be employed. Thus, in stead of the flywheel '61, I may provide vanes adapted to operate on the basis of air resistance. Furthermore, instead of the train of clockwork gearing, I may employ a dashpot or any other suitable equivalent delay creating means.

It will readily be understood that when the solenoid 54 is energized and its armature moves down promptly, the weight 62 tends to swing the sector 59 upwardly, clear of the pin i6. As pointed out before, this takes an appreciable time, such as a second or half a second, and during that period of time the coin i held under test in engagement with the heated contact pin I5.

A lever 68 is pivotally mounted on the front side of the wall I3 and is biassed downwardly by a spring 69. The free extremity of the lever 68 bears against the upper end of the armature of the solenoid 54. The spring 66 is sufiiciently strong so that when the solenoid 54 is deenergized, its armature, the weight 62, and the lever 68, ar moved upwardly.

At an intermediate position the arm 68 carries a rearwardly projecting pin 16 which extends through an opening 1| in the plate I3 into alignment with the coin chute I2. The pin 10 is referred to.

normally-locatedout of the path of a, coin moving downwardly through the chute I2 .into engagement with the pins I and I5. When, however, the solenoid 54 is energized and its armature immediately moves downwardly, the lever 63 follows it under the influence of the spring 69 and the lever 68 is arrested by engagement of the pin ID with the coin under test.

The spring 69 is then efiective to press the coin strongly against the heated contact pin I5. After the pin III has thus engaged the coin under test, the weight 62 moves the sector 59 clear of the pin I6 and thereupon the coin is moved swiftly away from test position by its own weight and by the pushing action of the pin 19.

Thus, the coin under test is maintained for a distinct interval in contact with the heated contactpin I5 and consequently adequate time is provided for the actuation of the gate 29 in the event that the coin i genuine. The thermocouple 45 is constituted by a nickel wire '52 which is connected to the conductor 44 and a copper wire 13 which is mounted on the lower end of the rod 49. The wire I3 is sufficiently long so that a temperature substantially lower than that of the contact pin I5 prevails'at its point of connection with the nickel wire 12. The wire i2 is sufliciently long so that the temperature at its two ends is radically difierent.

The thermocouple 45 creates a back E. M. that is, it creates a voltage which opposes the voltage between the coin and th heated contact I5. The provision of this or other equivalent means for providing a back E. M. F. is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 329,675, filed April 15, 1940, and it must be understood that any of the means described in that application may be substituted for the specific means here described.

It will be understood that this back M. F. may be made smaller than the E. M. F. produced by a genuine coin in engagement with the heated contact I5 in any of a great number of ways. Thus, the temperature of the thermocouple 45 may be substantially less than that of the pin I5 or the metals or alloys which constitute the thermocouple 95 may be definitely selected, so that at the prevailing temperature of the thermocouple 45, be ithigher or lower than that of the pin, the back voltage provided by the thermocouple 45 is less than that produced by a genuine coin and the heated contact pin I5.

It will readily be understood that if a spurious coin or slug is inserted, it constitutes, with the heated contact I5, a thermocouple of very inferior Voltage characteristics. In that event the back E. M, F. produced by thermocouple 45 may be the greater and the flow of current through the relay lfl is in the opposite direction than that resulting from a genuine coin. Thus, instead of the contact 4| moving towards the contact 39, it will move in the opposite direction, which movement is limited by a stop I4.

Any suitable metals may be employed for the pin I5, for the rod 49, and for the elements I2 and I3, and the invention is not intended to be limited to the metals which have been previously Thus, the pin I5 and the rod 49 may be of silver, copper, brass, iron, stainless steel, or indeed any metal or alloy other than that of the. alloy or metal of the coins which are to .be tested. The same applies to the metals of thethermoco-uple 45. Thus, the metal I3 maybe copper, silver, stainless steel, etc, and the .metal 12 .may be nickel, chromium, German silver or any other suitable metal. The principal point is thatthe E. M. F. produced by the thermocouple should be opposite in voltage to that produced between the pin I5 and a genuine coin. The two voltages should be as close to each other as sensitivity of the relay 49 will permit.

In operation the plug 53 is plugged into any suitable outlet and the heater resistor 5| is heated'to bring the temperature of the contact pin I5 to a desired temperature which may suitably beabout 250 F. If the heater is not heated, no effective thermoelectric current can pass through the relay 40 and the gate 29 cannot be opened. Consequently, a genuine coin willbe refused-and it will pass down through-the chute 2'! to a return cup I5 inthe same manner as a spurious coin or slug is returned as will hereinafter be described.

Assuming that a coin smaller than a United States or Canadian nickel is inserted, the coin hits the pin I5 and it also hits the pin I6, forcing it away from the pin I5 until it engages the sector 59. A smaller coin, such as a Mexican nickel, will pass the'pins I5, I6, and will be returned to the return chute 21, the gate 29 being closed.

If a genuine coin is inserted, it hits the pin l5 and the pin I5, moving the pin I6 away from the pin I5 until it engages the sector 59. This closes the switch 55 and the solenoid 54 is energized, its armature moving dowwardly immediately. The arm 68 under the influence of the spring 59 likewise immediately moves downwardly, following the armature of the solenoid 54 until its pin 15 engages the upper side of the genuine coin, forcing it firmly against the heated contact pin I5.

The heated contact pin and the genuine coin constitute a thermocouple of very considerable voltage. This voltage is greater than and opposite to the voltage produced by the thermocouple 45. In the case of a genuine coin, this excessive voltage is suificient to carry the arm- 4| into engagement with the fixed contact 39. This completes the circuit from ground, battery 38, electromagnet 32, back to ground. The energization of the electromagnet opens the gate 29.

-All this occurs while the weight 62 is swinging downwardly towards the armature of the solenoid 54. This downward movement carries the sector 59 clear of the pin I6 and the weight of the coin, together with the force supplied to it by the pin 19, moves the coin downwardly towards the chute 30 past the open gate 29.

After the coin has cleared the pin I5, the relay ii opens and when the residual magnetism of the electromagnet 32 dies down, the gate 29 moves to closed position, this occurring after the accepted coin has safely passed into the chute 30.

In the case of a spurious coin, the actuation ofztne pin I5, the solenoid 54, and the sector 59 is precisely the same. The only difference is that the relay 40 is not closed. The current passing through its coil is either not suiiicient to move the contact 4| into engagement with the contact 39 or is in the opposite direction so that the movable contact 4| is moved into engagement with the stop 14. In either event the gate 29 does not open and when the pin I6 is cleared by the sector 59, the spurious coin is forced downwardly so that it engages the closed gate 29 whichwdiverts it into-the discard chute 21.

.-.A plurality of coins may be inserted invthe coin chute l2 and in this event the coins will be tested and either accepted or rejected one at a time and one after the other. The lowermost coin rests upon the pins I5 and I6 and when the solenoid 54 is energized, the pin 10 moves downwardly into engagement with its upper end and when the pin 10 is at its lowermost position, it is located in the path of the next coin in the chute l2 holding this coin out of contact with the pin I6. It is only after the sector 59 has moved back into position opposite the pin 16 that the pin 10 releases the next coin so that it may move into engagement with the pin [6.

The engagement of the second coin with the pin l6 moves this pin into engagement with the sector 59 and incidentally closes the switch 55 so that the energization of the solenoid and the completion of the testing operation with that coin is continued. It will of course be understood that the chute l2 may be of any desired length to accommodate any desired number of coins.

The coin chute 30 may be connected to any desired coin controlled mechanism. Thus, a switch 75 may be located in the path of the descending coin so that it will be closed by every coin which is accepted and descends through the genuine coin chute 3B. This switch 16 may be employed for the release of any suitable coincontrolled mechanism, many of which are wellknown in the coin-control art.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of'the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1, In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins, comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple and means controlled by said thermocouple for determining the disposition of the coin, in combination, means for holding a coin in a testing position in engagement with said heated contact, automatic means for actuating said holding means to effect release of the coin from said position, and time delay means associated with and exclusively controlling the operation of said automatic means whereby the coin is maintained in testing position for a definite interval of time.

2. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spuriou coins, comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple and means controlled by said thermocouple for determining the disposition of the coin, in combination, means including the heated contact and a movable supporting member for holding the coin in testing position, means normally limiting the movement of said movable supporting member, automatic mean for rendering said limiting means ineffective, and means controlled by limited movement of said movable supporting member for actuating said automatic means after the coin has been in testing position for a definite interval of time.

3. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins, comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple and means controlled by said thermocouple for determining the disposition of the coin, in combination, means including the heated contact and a movable supporting member for holding the coin in testing position, means normally limiting the movement of said movable supporting member, automatic means for rendering said limiting means ineffective, means controlled by the limited movement of said movable supporting member for actuating said automatic means, and time delay means therefor whereby said limiting means are made ineffective a definite interval after the coin has reached testing position.

4. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple and means controlled by said thermocouple for determining the disposition of the coin, in combination, mean for holding a coin in a testing position in engagement with said heated contact, automatic means for engaging acoin in said position and forcing same against said heated contact and said holding means, automatic means for actuating said holding means to effect release of the coin from said position, and time delay means associated with last said automatic means whereby the coin is released definitely after the engaging means have forced the coin against the heated contact.

5. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple and means controlled by said thermocouple for determining the disposition of the coin, in combination, means including the heated contact and a movable supporting member for holding the coin in a testing position, automatic means for engaging a coin in aid position and forcing same against said heated contact, means normally limiting the movement of said movable supporting member, automatic means for rendering said limiting means ineffective, and means controlled by limited movement of said movable supporting member for actuating both said automatic means in succession whereby the coin under test is forced against the heated contact and is thereafter released.

6. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple and means controlled by said thermocouple for determining the disposition of the coin, in combination, means including the heated contact and a movable supporting member for holding the coin in a testing position, automatic means for engaging a coin in said position and forcing same against said heated contact, means normally limiting the movement of said movable supporting member, automatic means for rendering said limiting means ineffective, means controlled by limited movement of said movable supporting member for actuating both said automatic means, and time delay means for causing last said automatic means to operate after first said automatic means has forced the coin against said heated contact.

7. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple and means controlled by said thermocouple for determining the disposition of the coin, in combination, a coin chute for receiving a plurality of coins to be tested, means for holding the lowermost coin in a testing position in engagement with said heated contact, automatic means for engaging a coin in said position and arranged to move into the path of the next coin in the chute, automatic means for actuating said holding means to effect release of the coin from said position, and time delay means associated with last said automatic means whereby the coin is released definitely after the first said automatic means.

8. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple and means controlled by said thermocouple for determining the disposition of the coin, in combination, means including the heated contact and a movable supporting member for holding the coin in a testing position, a coin chute adapted to receive a plurality of coins and to locate the lowermost coin in said testing position, automatic means for engaging a coin in said position and forcing the same against said heated contact and against said supporting member, said automatic means being arranged to move into coin-blocking position above the coin in the testing position, means normally limiting the movement of said movable member, automatic means for rendering said limiting means ineffective, and means controlled by said limited movement of said movable supporting member for actuating both said automatic means in succession whereby the coin under test is forced against the heated contact and is thereafter released.

9. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple and means controlled by said thermocouple for determining the disposition of the coin, in combination, means including the heated contact and a movable supporting member for holding the coin in a testing position, a coin chute adapted to receive a plurality of coins and to locate the lowermost coin in said testing position, automatic means for engaging a coin in said position and forcing the same against said heated contact and against said supporting member, said automatic means being arranged to move into coin-blocking position above the coin in the testing position, means normally limiting the movement of said movable member, automatic means for rendering said limiting means inefiective, and means controlled by said limited movement of said movable supporting member for actuating both said automatic means, and time delay means for causing last said automatic means to operate after first said automatic means has forced the coin against said heated contact.

10. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple, a gate for determining the disposition of the coin, and electromagnetic means controlled by said thermocouple for actuating said gate, in combination, means for retaining a coin in testing position in engagement with said heated contact, a switch actuated by said retaining means, and electromagnetic means controlled by said switch for releasing said retaining means.

11. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple, a gate for determining the disposition of the coin, and electromagnetic means controlled by said thermocouple for actuating said gate, in combination, means for retaining a coin in testing position in engagement with said heated contact, a switch actuated by said retaining means, electromagnetic means controlled by said switch for releasing said retaining means, and time delay means associated with last said electromagnetic means whereby the coin is retained in testing position for a definite interval of time.

12. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple, a gate for determining the disposition of the coin, and electromagnetic means controlled by said thermocouple for actuating said gate, in combination, means including the heated contact and a movable supporting member for holding the coin in testing position, means normally limiting the movement of said movable supporting member, a switch arranged to be closed by a coin in said testing position, automatic means for rendering said limiting means inefiective including a second electromagnetic means controlled by said switch, and time delay means associated with said limiting means whereby the movable supporting member is held in coin-retaining position for a definite interval of time.

13. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage a coin and constitute therewith a thermocouple, a gate for determining the disposition of the coin, and electromagnetic means controlled by said thermocouple for actuating said gate, in combination, means including the heated contact and a movable supporting member for holding the coin in a testing position, automatic means for engaging a coin in said position and forcing same against said heated contact, means normally limiting the movement of said movable supporting member, automatic means for rendering said limiting means ineffective, electromagnetic means controlled by limited movement of said movable supporting member for actuating both said automatic means, and time delay means associated with last said automatic means whereby the same is caused to operate after first said automatic mean has forced the coin against said heated contact.

14. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a heated contact arranged to engage acoin and constitute therewith a thermocouple, a gate for determining the disposition of the coin, and electromagnetic means controlled by said thermocouple for actuating said gate, in combination, means including the heated contact and a movable supporting member for holding the coin in a testing position, a coin chute adapted to receive a plurality of coins and. to locate the lowermost coin in said testing position, automatic means for engaging the coin in said position and forcing the same against said heated contact and against said supporting member, said automatic means being arranged to move into coin-blocking position above the coin in the testing position, means normally limiting the movement of said movable member, automatic means for rendering said limiting means ineffective, and electromagnetic means controlled by said limited movement of said-supporting member for actuating both said automatic means, and time delay means associated with last said automatic means whereby the same is caused to operate after first said automatic means has forced the coin against said heated contact.

FRED E. A. WALLIN. 

